(This is a test trail to see if this story gets any traction - if it does might put it up on AO3)
Summary: Hawkins are finally settling down, the war slowly fading from people's minds. Some. For others it's just starting. The crew had finally moved on doing their best to leave it all behind and hope it will become a distant memory. However, Max does not have that luxury. She wanted to leave it behind, pretend it was just a horrible nightmare, but it seems her mind has other ideas. Spending two years in Vecna's mind does mess you up and leaves...residues. Is there is a place for her now with these new...developments?
Max watched as Lucas walked down the driveway. It wasn't anyone's fault really. It just...time and distance. He was a great boyfriend, the best Max has ever had. Treated her right, respected her, stayed with her when she was in the coma for two years. Who else would stay that long for someone? Hell, went through hell with her and almost died with her. Almost saw the end of the world happen before their eyes.
But now the world was healing...well Hawkins was healing. Patching up the remains of the "earthquake" that happened. Little by little evidence of "what happened" disappearing. The school was rebuilt, the literal portal to the other world was covered up and sealed back up. It really felt like a fever dream.
No one was on the edge of their seat anymore. No one was wondering if the next day would happen. No one was practicing their shooting for demon dogs and demon gorgons. Staying in one house in fear of someone else getting kidnapped. Those days were over. With the settling of events came the settling of feelings. Max and Lucas. It really wasn't a bad breakup but Max just...it...there wasn't anything there anymore and Lucas agreed. They both promised to see each other and remain friends because they did almost die together.
Those few months after felt different. Watched Dustin go off to college, watched Mike and Will fall apart. Hopper moved with Ms. Myers to a different state. Steve, Nancy, Robin, and Johnathan came back every month but even then, they came less and less until they didn't show up anymore. They moved on. Max knew she had to move on too. There was nothing here anymore for her.
It was November when she decided to apply for colleges. She had to get out of here sometime, right? She applied to a few states over giving herself enough space from Hawkins where she couldn't just get on a bus and come back...home? Was this place home or was it the people here...was here home to her?
It wasn't until the nightmares started that things started to change. Well...she though it was nightmares. It started out as nightmares but things started to happen when she was awake. She would think something and someone would happen. She watched a car go by and think of Will or Finn, and a fire hydrant would explode. She would be listening to music and swear she heard her name.
His voice.
She knew what it was. Or thought she did but hoped that it wasn't true. She was playing ignorant.
Two years.
She was trapped in his...mind thingy for two years. She was stupid enough to think she would come out without a trace. That it was done and over with. But it wasn't. There were still traces of him. Of the war. She was fucked.
She was on her bed looking through the mail of colleges that have accepted her. However, there was a one she never heard of. It was in a purple envelope with a weird wax stamp on there. Huh. Who used waxed stamps anymore.
She flipped it over and read the college. Never Ever More college for the out there.
Out there?
She looked at the envelope more reading the tiny script.
Never Ever More College - Sibling to Nevermore High School
